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General Updates

Happy Summer!

First order of business is to announce the joyful news that Dr. Camp's second grandchild, Sophie Elizabeth, was born July 7, 2009. Baby and Mom are doing well!

Beginning in August, the newsletters will be coming to you courtesy of Medicine Talk. If you decide you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, there will be a convienent unsubscribe link for you. The newsletters will still be written by Dr. Camp, but by bringing them to you via Medicine Talk, she will be able to write one newsletter per month instead of two.

Dr. Camp is planning a trip to Oklahoma in September and to New Hampshire in November. We will send out updates via email when we have exact travel dates so you can schedule in-person follow-ups.

Sunscreens

Natural Sunscreen – Not Always from a Bottle
by GLI Editors in Sunscreen
Reprinted with permission. Original Article

Gone are the days of sitting out on your front walk, coated with suntan lotion, tinfoil reflectors framing your face to maximize the sun exposure. Back then, a deep, dark tan was the ultimate sign of health.

Not anymore. First the ozone layer developed a hole, then skin cancer warnings were plastered everywhere. It’s now considered irresponsible and unhealthy to purposely sit out in the sun for prolonged periods of time without skin protection, but many of the products promised as protection carry physical and environmental risks…

If You Can’t Pronounce It, Do You Really Want It on Your Skin?
The advent of more advanced sun protection offered hope for improved skin care, until research revealed the dangers of certain ingredients in these common products. Parabens, found in many sunscreens and sunblocks, were outed as estrogen mimics and endocrine disruptors. Commonly used sunscreen ingredients like benzophenone (oxybenzone), octinoxate, cinnamates, and homosalate were found guilty of increasing the risk of cancer!

The addition of nanotechnology—used by the sunscreen industry to make the white, opaque elements of titanium and zinc more transparent—is giving rise to alarm in alternative health circles. When used on the surface of the skin, titanium dioxide is a non-reactive substance …. When made into nano-particle size, however, titanium particles can enter the body through the skin, becoming a highly reactive substance, the potential harm of which has not been extensively studied.

Concurrently, environmentally concerned consumers became alarmed at the effects the new sunscreens were having upon the world around them. Many of the chemical ingredients were found in various waterways, which makes sense, as people often wear sunblock into the water. The result was a disastrous disruption in the hormonal systems of fish and other animals due to the fact that they inhabit and consume the toxic waters.

People wanted to be protected against skin cancer, to be sure, but not at the cost of their overall wellbeing, and not at the expense of environmental health. Thus began the hunt for environmentally responsible, health conscious skin protection.

Is There a ‘Natural’ Sunscreen?
In response to the findings, companies started developing what they called “natural” sunscreens and sunblocks, which contained fewer toxic ingredients. As a result, you can now find a plentiful selection of paraben-free products on many store shelves.

But can any sunscreen ingredient be considered completely eco-friendly? Titanium dioxide, long considered one of the least toxic ingredients in sunblock, has recently been linked to some damage to fish populations, though the effects are still not considered excessively harmful.

The addition of nanotechnology—used by the sunscreen industry to make the white, opaque elements of titanium and zinc more transparent—is giving rise to alarm in alternative health circles. When used on the surface of the skin, titanium dioxide is a non-reactive substance that serves as a block to the sun’s harmful rays (unlike the chemicals in sunscreen that absorb UV rays). When made into nano-particle size, however, titanium particles can enter the body through the skin, becoming a highly reactive substance, the potential harm of which has not been extensively studied.

So what’s a health- and planet-conscious consumer to do? Studies have revealed the promise of new biodegradable sunscreen products made with zinc oxide. Ingredients biodegrade without causing harm to the body or to the environment.

The Environmental Working Group used their Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to perform a study of 785 sunscreens for efficacy and safety. Of the top 10 products listed—including Badger (SPF 30), Lavera Sun Screen Neutral (SPF 40), and UV Natural Adult New Formula 2007 (SPF 30)—all had safety ratings in the “low hazard” category, rating only a 1 on a 1-10 scale for dangerous or envirotoxic ingredients. Of the top ten sunscreens listed, six use a micronized form of zinc oxide.

A footnote on the Skin Deep site noted that although there have not been sufficient studies on the nano-particle forms of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, their research still found these products to be the most effective and least harmful on the market. The marketers of sunscreen products with micronized, or nano-particle zinc oxide, say that it is far less toxic than its cousin, titanium dioxide.

Avoiding Store-Bought Sunblock
Some folks choose to forgo the chemical sunblock industry all together. They use natural ingredients found at health food stores to create their own sunblock lotion, or they wear sun-protective clothing and limit their time in the sun.

To make your own sunscreen without worries about the possible effects of nanotech elements found in store-bought products: Purchase plain zinc oxide ointment at a drugstore and mix it into your favorite skin lotion to make your own sunscreen.

In addition, consuming plenty of deep green and red produce is said to offer sun-protective benefits and add extra defense against skin cancer.

Truly Natural Alternatives
For people who live in Australia, where two out of three people will be treated for skin cancers during their lifetime, many choose to go one step further. Sun-protective clothing is specially made with a tighter weave to block the harmful rays of the sun and offers the equivalent of approximately SPF 30.

• Australia-based Coolibar is a company that offers sun-protective clothing, swimwear, and hats.
• Other companies offering clothing with sun-protective fabrics include: Solar Eclipse and Solartex.

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Fun Summer Fruit: Melons

In general, a melon as defined by Webster's Dictionary is "the large round fruit of various plants of the gourd family, with sweet pulpy flesh and many seeds (honeydew, cantaloupe, muskmelon)." Humans have been cultivating melons for over 4000 years!!! Low in calories, melons make a great snack especially in the summer. Nutritionally, most melons provide Vitamins A, B’s and C, calcium, phosphorus and some melons, a small amount of iron. Melons provide alkalinizing water to the body which can help with elimination functions and, perhaps best of all, they are just plain, tasty.

Preparing a melon could not be easier - simply wash it, slice it in half, clean out the seeds and they are ready to go. You can serve it in chunks, slices or in little balls (a melon baller comes in handy for this serving method). Selection of the best melon depends on the type you are buying and there are many, many different types of melons. Check out this link at Produce Oasis for a list of common melons with links for more information.

Foods That Heal. Dr. Bernard Jensen.1993. Avery Publishing Group. Garden City Park, NY.
Healing with Whole Foods. Paul Pritchford. 1993. North Atlantic Books. Berkeley, CA.

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Melon Smoothie

Fresh, crisp and refreshing fruit smoothie:

1 Cup Watermelon; Cut Up
1 Cup Cantaloupe Or Honeydew
1 Cup Pineapple; Cut Up
1 Cup Mango; Cut Up
1 Cup Strawberries; Halved
1/4 Cup Organic Sugar (Stevia, Agave nectar, honey or other sweeteners)
1 Cup Orange Juice
Crushed Ice

Mix all ingredients except ice. Fill blender container 1/2 full of mixture. Add crushed ice to fill to the top. Cover and blend on high speed until of a uniform consistency. Repeat with remaining mixture. Serve immediately; garnish with fruit or a sprig of mint, if desired.

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Bioflavonoids

Also known as Flavonoids, these compounds from plants function primarily as antioxidants in the human body. Although it is a generalization, the more colorful a plant, the more bioflavonoids it contains.

So, you might ask, what is an antioxidant? Let’s start with the concept that our cells use oxygen. When our cells use oxygen, a by-product, called a free-radical, is produced. These free-radicals can damage our body and this type of damage is called oxidative damage. An antioxidant can prevent, slow and repair oxidative damage.

Many health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes and cancer are believed to have a component of oxidative damage to their genesis. These, among many conditions like the following, have been shown to benefit from a diet high in bioflavonoids: arthritis, asthma, bursitis, eczema, glaucoma, periodontal disease, ulcers and varicose veins.

Common foods that supply bioflavonoids:
Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries), peppers (green, orange, yellow and red bell peppers), onions, parsley, legumes, green tea, apricots, black currants, broccoli, cantaloupes, cherries, grapefruits, grapes, oranges and lemons, tomatoes and so much more!

Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Michael Murray, ND and Joseph Pizzorno, ND.

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Aloe vera

Aloe is a wonderful herb that belongs to the Aloaceae family. We commonly use the leaf, which has two parts, the latex and the gel. The gel is the liquid, jelly-like substance from the middle part of the leaf while the latex is found just under the skin.

Aloe latex is used internally as a laxative and in very small doses it can be a bitter stimulant to the digestive tract. If used chronically, it can deplete potassium and other minerals and it can be habit forming, leading to constipation when discontinued. It is not depleting or addictive on occasional use. One of the ingredients in Aloe latex is a substance called anthraquinone (there are several different kinds in the latex) and because of this, it should not be used during pregnancy or with drugs that contain cardiac glycosides. It is best to use aloe latex under the supervision of a trained healthcare provider.

The gel, however, is not known to have any toxicity. Aloe gel can be used to treat ulcers and inflammation both internally and externally. When applied topically, it speeds up the healing of wounds, relieves pain and inflammation, has some antimicrobial properties and works wonders for healing burns. It may reduce scar formation when used throughout the healing process. Because of the high fiber content, it binds and carries cholesterol from the intestinal tract and has been used during detoxification programs. The typical Aloe juice that can be purchased in many health food stores is made from the gel.

How do you use it topically? Break off the leaf, cut it open and, presto, fresh aloe gel!

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Skin Brushing

Detoxification in the human body is the job of our glands, skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes. The skin, however, is the largest organ of elimination in our body. Skin brushing is a great technique to help keep this organ of detoxification working at its best. There are many benefits including removal of cellulite, cleansing of the lymphatic system, removal of dead skin, stimulation of glands, tightening of the skin, toning of the muscles and stimulation of circulation.

You will need either a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle or a Loofah sponge. Brush your dry body just before you shower, brushing from the feet upward, from the hands inward and from the head downward, always moving in the direction of the heart. Avoid broken areas of skin, wounds and rashes. Spend at least 15 minutes per day dry brushing. Finish your shower with a little hydrotherapy, alternating between 1 minute of hot and 20 seconds of cold water (repeat 3 times). After showering, rub your body vigorously with a towel.

The Art of Balanced Health